DETROIT -- It was a tough day for Mikel Leshoure in his second NFL start.

The Detroit Lions running back scampered for 100 yards in his debut at Nashville a week ago, but could only come up with 26 yards on 13 carries in the 20-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

It certainly wasn't all his fault -- he was still the Lions' leading rusher. The Vikings made his day long and difficult.

"We have to be able to run and last week I think we did. I think we accomplished what we needed to accomplish from our running game. But today, we didn't slow their rush down and we didn't get those first downs or explosives,'' coach Jim Schwartz said. "The one we did, we fumbled and it makes it hard to continue to stick with it. Last week, we were able to continue to stick with it because we rushed for 11 first downs and we were moving the chains. This game, we didn't do that and that had a big effect on our pass game and had a big effect on the pass rush that we faced."

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Leshoure's fumble came on a 14-yard carry on a first-and-10 at Minnesota's 45-yard line. It was stripped and recovered by safety Jamarca Sanford.

"A fumble, I mean, it's not characteristic for me. It's nothing that I do but I got caught and, you know, they took advantage of me having the ball not tucked in and put away right,'' Leshoure said. "I can't have that. I can't have it, especially not in the red zone because that's when we're about to score."

All that work and no pay for Leshoure. When he was suspended for two games for his two marijuana possession charges, he was also fined for the amount of his first two games.

Helmet to helmet

Early in the fourth, quarter Calvin Johnson was rocked by a helmet-to-helmet hit by linebacker Chad Greenway.

It didn't appear to be intentional.

Johnson went to the sidelines and was tested to make sure he didn't suffer a concussion.

"He wasn't trying to put me out of the game or anything like that," Johnson said.

"I didn't feel like it was going to keep me out of the game. They have a test just for precautionary reasons, but I didn't feel like it was going to keep me out."

Sack masters

Ndamukong Suh was credited with a half-a-sack which ties him with DT Henry Thomas for seventh among Lions defensive tackles for career sacks (since 1982).

Cliff Avril picked up the other half of the sack. Avril left the field in the second half with a back injury and did not return. Schwartz did not have a health update after the game.

Kyle Vanden Bosch was credited with a sack of Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder.

Welcome back, Nick

In his first game with the Lions since the end of the 2010 season, Nick Harris punted well.

Four of his five punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. It is the most by a Lions punter since Harris had four at Minnesota Oct. 12, 2008. This was his eighth game with the Lions with four or more punts inside the 20-yard line, which is the most in franchise history.

Harris, who spent eight seasons with the Lions (2003-2010), was signed this week after Ben Graham was injured in the loss at Tennessee.

Ins and outs

Safety Amari Spievey, who played an increased role last week against the Titans, was out Sunday with a groin injury that cropped up later in the week.

Safety Ricardo Silva, who was signed from the practice squad on Saturday, started at free safety. He was just the third active safety on the roster. Erik Coleman started for the fourth straight game. John Wendling started at free safety in the three previous games.

Also, as expected, Louis Delmas did not play. He has not practiced since Aug. 7 knee surgery, although he was dancing around on the field during the pre-game.

Defensive tackle Sammie Hill started for Corey Williams, who had knee surgery on Tuesday.